AMP-activated protein kinase positively regulates FGF-2-stimulated VEGF synthesis in osteoblasts

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is recognized as a regulator of energy homeostasis. We have previously reported that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release through the activation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of AMPK in FGF-2-stimulated VEGF release in these cells. FGF-2 time-dependently induced the phosphorylation of AMPK α-subunit (Thr-172). Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, which suppressed the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of AMPK, significantly inhibited the VEGF release stimulated by FGF-2. The AMPK inhibitor also reduced the mRNA expression of VEGF induced by FGF-2. The FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of both p44/p42 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK was attenuated by compound C. These results strongly suggest that AMPK positively regulates the FGF-2-stimulated VEGF synthesis via p44/p42 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK in osteoblasts.

Research highlights
► FGF-2 induced the phosphorylation of AMPK α-subunit (Thr-172) in osteoblasts.
► AMPK positively regulates the FGF-2-stimulated VEGF synthesis.
► AMPK functions at a point upstream of p44/p42 MAPK and SAPK/JNK.